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Thursday May 17, 2012

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Save Father Bob Maguire

Posted by: 3AW Breakfast | 7 September, 2009 - 8:28 AM
Father Bob Maguire has been asked to 'vacate the premises'

Father Bob Maguire, Melbourne's most recognisable priest, has been asked to resign by Archbishop Denis Hart because he has reached 75 years of age.

3AW Breakfast wants Father Bob, like Dale Kerrigan did in The Castle, to 'tell em to get stuffed'. Get behind their campaign on this page.

In his blog, Father Bob described how he was informed of the news: "Phone rang Wednesday. 'It's the archbishop. I'll be there in 20 minutes.' I didn't have time to think or call for help. Luckily, Judy, the office manager, was present to take notes. By the time he left, I was feeling 90 years of age, not 75, the age of statutory senility."

"He gave me two dates for compliance. One was my birthday. He expects a letter of resignation. The other is a month later. He expects me to vacate the premises. No good whingeing about lack of courtesy or respect for a senior field officer."

"Power makes some people less restrained than they naturally are. Jesus warned about power, especially among his disciples. Someone, later, allegedly said: 'Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely'. It's not a universal absolute. I've known leaders, both civil and military, endowed with enormous power who presented as humble as doormats. They were great leaders for all of that."

I've handed the issue over to the local 'elders'. It's not between me and the archbishop, as far as I'm concerned and he denies."

Should Father Bob be allowed to keep performing his duties?

Blog comments Your Say

  • Fr. Bob married Geoff and me, I am not sure I should thank him for that, but he is amazing and is so passionate in caring for the underpriviliged in our community. I am his LollyPop lady in Bank St. Go Pies :

    NANCY BRIGHT Tuesday 25 October, 2011 - 8:02 PM

  • you'd be mad to get rid of fr bob before hes ready to go himself,hes one of the last real uncomplicated people left, and a top bloke at that, im sure fr bob knows when that time will come, or will be,or if people reckons his past it, i doubt any of his parishioners would want him to go,and i doubt there would be many in the community that would either.

    john Monday 24 October, 2011 - 3:26 PM

  • What is wrong with the church. Leave father Bob in his position as parish priest he has well and truly earned the right. Father Bob is someone everyone from all faiths can relate to because he is what a true Christian iska76k1

    Maureen.Gibbens Thursday 20 October, 2011 - 11:31 AM

  • If we are to view the Church as a non-spiritual organisation, surely we must afford them the same rights as any other organisation. If an employee were to openly oppose the ethos of a company, question the leadership within that company and consistently make snide comments regarding a plethora of issues dealt with by that company, surely we would understand his being dismissed. Fr Bob is not being dismissed, he is being treated as many other priests are and retiring at the required age. The Church is within her rights to ask for this so nothing underhand is at play here. Furthermore, he is not being turfed out with nowhere else to go. The Church looks after her retired priests, annually asking all parishers to contribute to a fund, housing them, feeding them and giving them a pension. One final point, nobody is stopping Fr Maguire from continuing his charitable works which undoubtedly help many people. He can continue to say Mass, feed the homeless and minister to the broken, only not in the official capacity as Parish Priest.

    Chris Tuesday 18 October, 2011 - 10:44 AM

  • I am a paid worker for the homeless, People unfairly suffering poverty due to illness, Mental Health issues, Family Break ups and those who are affected by addictions. Governments are NOT providing Hope,adequate Support nor taking adequate responsibility for these Citizens. Father Bob and his supporters are doing the Job along with Les Twentyman!
    My Sons aged 24 and 21 Years are not so interested in the Catholic Church because there is no real Humanity shown by the Church! However, they know Father Bob and see his face as the face of a caring Christian in touch with their Generation and who follows Christ's teachings without Judgement!

    Carmel Brundrett Monday 17 October, 2011 - 10:43 PM

  • Well I'm pleased that the Catholic church has been able to resolve this issue amicably and I hope to everyone's satisfaction.

    Just a tip: You can only change the Catholic church from WITHIN - so if you're serious instead of taking any opportunity to have a whinge at how your needs are not being met, I suggest you at least attend mass more than twice a year and become an active member of the Catholic community.

    There, now I can't say any fairer than that, can I...

    Nathan Friday 25 September, 2009 - 7:53 PM

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